Propeller-wheel



(No Mmm.) 2 sheets-sheet 1.-

G. W. PELTON. PROPELLE-R WHEEL.

No. 436,802. Patented sept. 2s, 1890.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

GEORGE XV. PELTON, OF MUSOATINE, IOVA.

PROPELLER-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,802, datedSeptember 23, 1890..

Application filed January 28, 1890. Serial No. 338,428. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, GEORGE W. PELToN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Muscatine, in the county of Muscatine and State of Iowa,have invented a new and useful Propeller-Vheel, of which the followingris a speciiication.

This invention relates to that class of propeller-wheels in which theblades or buckets have what is known asa feath ering motion, and it hasfor its object to construct a wheel of this class which shall be simple,durable, and efficient in operation, and which, in case of injury to anyof its parts, shall be readily accessible for the purpose of making thenecessary repairs.

The invention, which is equally adapted to stern and to sidepaddle-wheels, consists in the improved construction, arrangement, andcombination of parts,which will be hereinafter fully described, andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a side view of apaddle-wheel or propellerwheel embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal vertical sectional view of the same, taken on the `line a;o: in Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line y yin Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the paddles and aportion of the operating mechanism.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

Referring to the drawings, 1 v1 designate the timbers having the boxesor bearings 2 2, in which the central or main shaft 3 of my iinprovedpropeller-wheel is j ourn aled. Permanently secured to the inner sidesof the timbers 1 and concentrieally with the bearings 2 are thespur-wheels et, which are provided with central openings 5, throughwhich the ends of the shaft 3 extend. The shaft 3 is provided with hubs6, of which there may be two or more, according to the size of thewheel. Two of these hubs are located at the ends of the shaft adjacentto the spur-wheels e, and the remaining hubs are to be locatedequidistantly at intermed iate points. In the drawings hereto annexedthree such hubs have been shown, one of them being located centrallyupon the shaft. This will probably be the number of hubs preferablyemployed in a wheel of ordinary or moderate size. The hubs 6 areprovided each with a series of radiating arms orspokes 7, the number ofwhich corresponds with the number of paddles which it is desired to use.In the drawings hereto annexed eight such arms or spokes have been shownas radiating from each of the hubs. The said arms or spokes may bere-enforced and strengthened by means of circular rings or bands 8.

9 i) designate the series of shafts, four in number, whicharejournaledin boxes or bearings 10, which are arranged in the anglesbetween the radiating arms or spokes 7. The shafts 9 are provided attheir ends with pinions 11, meshing with the fixed spur-wheelsa upon thetimbers 1. Suitably mounted at intermediate points upon the shafts 9,preferably adjacent to the central hub 6, are pinions 12, that mesh withspur-wheels 13, which are journaled upon wrist-pins or stub-axles i4upon the arms or spokes 7 radiating from the hub, adjacent to which thepinions 12 are mounted. The spur-wheels 13 are provided with wrist-pins15, upon which is mounted a ring 16, the position of which is eccentricwith relation to the hub 6. It will be seen that by the action of thespur-wheels 13, to which it is connected, a rotary movement will becommunicated to the said ring 16, eccentrieally with relation to theaxis of the wheel.

At the outer ends of the arms or spokes 7 boxes or bearings 17 areprovided for the transverse rock-shafts 18, carrying the paddles 19. Ofthese paddles one or more will be mounted upon each shaft, according tothe number of hubs. The paddles are constructed each of two separatepieces located on opposite sides of the shaft 18 and connected with thelatter by means of caps or clamps 20, which are secured in any suitableAmanner upon the said shafts. One of the clamps or clasps 2O of each ofthe transverse shafts is provided with an arm or bracket 2l extending atright angles thereto. The outer end of said bracket is connected by apivoted rod or pitman 22 with the ring 1G. The parts or sections 23 and24 of which each paddle is composed are of unequal size or width, thelower one (by which is meant the one which first enters the water) beingsmaller or narrower than the other. This is for the purpose of lesseningthe re- IOO sistance and to render breakage less likely to occur by theforcible contact of the paddles with the Water.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawingshereto annexed, the operation and advantages of my invention Will bereadily understood. The general construction of my improved paddle-wheelis very simple and inexpensive and of such a nature as to insurelightness and strength. It Will be obvious that the featheringmechanism, comprising the pinions 12, spur-wheels 13, ring 16, brackets2l, and pitmen 22, may be duplicated at the ends of the wheel, if itshall be thought desirable or advisable to do so. I also reserve theright to any changes or modifications in the construction andarrangement of details which may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claimv l. The combination of thesupporting-timbers, the spur-wheels mounted permanently upon the innersides of the same, the main shaft extending through said spur-Wheels andjournaled in boxes upon the said supportingtimbers, the hubs mountedupon saidy shaft and having radiating arms or spokes, the shaftsjournaled at the outer ends of said spokesand carrying the paddles, andpinions, spur-Wheels, and pitmen for transmitting motion from the saidsp ur-Wheels to the said paddles, for the purpose of feathering thelatter, l

substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the supporting-timbers, the lnain shaft journaledupon the same, the stationary spur-Wheels attached permanently to thesupporting-timbers concentrically with the main shaft, the hubs mountedupon the latter and having radiating spokes, the shafts jourualed at theouter ends of the latter and carrying the paddles, the shafts journaledbetween the spokes of the Wheel and having pinions meshing with thestationary spur-wheels, the spur-Wheels journaled upon the spokes andmeshing with pinions mounted intermediately upon the said shafts,

the ring mounted upon Wrist-pins extending from the said spur-Wheelseccentrically to the :main shaft, and pitmen connecting said ring withbrackets extending from the paddles at right angles to the latter,substantially as set forth. Y

3. The combination of the main shaft, the hubs havingthe radiating armsor spokes, the shafts journaled at the out-er ends of the latter andcarrying the paddles, spur-Wheels mounted upon the said spokes, a ringmounted pivotally upon the said spur-Wheels eccenytrically to the mainshaft, means for transmitting motion to the said spur-Wheels fromstationary spur-Wheels mountedV upon the supporting-frame of the Wheel,and pitmen eennecting the said eccentric-ring with the paddles,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature inA presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE W. PEL'FON. Witnesses:

FRANK KILLMER, Louis H. KERN.

